Fearless Lioness comes on smiling, "Thank you for the reviews, I'll try and sort out the punctuation on the other chapters, but my computer is acting up, again," sigh "Please review, I know you want, and if you don't…" lightning in background.

Alex walks on, " she doesn't own anything" disappears in puff of smoke.

"I like a man of few words," Lioness watches him go sighing.

Purple Bruises

The fiery woman watched as the grumpy little girl slumped in her chair as Duchess Kassal shouted at her.

"You missed the last four of Lady Acton's lesson," She shook her head, "Alanna look at your dress where have you been." Alanna looked up with sullen eyes "Outside."

Alanna ignored her as she continued to scold her.

Duchess Kassal ordered her to help out in the servants when she'd finished.

Alanna leapt to her feet and practically ran out of the room, tutting Duchess Kassal closed the swinging door.

Alanna skipped out the building merrily the sky was a greyish colour at the moment, she'd been at this horrible place for almost a month now.

Anna was sitting carefully pulling out weeds when she got there.

"Hi," she said sinking down next to her

Anna glared at her, Alanna frowned in confusion "What's wrong," she questioned feeling a little grumpy.

"Nothing go away," ordered Anna sharply

Alanna glared at her before stomping off her messy dress billowy behind her in the wind.

The kitchens where most of the servants were talking hushed as the frowning red head marched into the kitchen, "I've to come to you for a week," she said frowning.

The broad short chief grunted and pointed to a basket "Washing outside," he said shortly, sniffed stirring a large pot.

Alanna walked over to the large basket, it was much wider than herself and her arms were stretched to their full extent as she lugged it out.

The washing flapped in the wind as Alanna struggled to get it down.

"I knew you were a servant," said a sickeningly content voice.

Alanna ground her teeth, and ignored the beautiful girl as she sailed over to her. Melissa was looking especially nice today. Her face split with a broad grin and her eyes danced. "Yes you're no better than a commoner," she carried on. Alanna looked up to the taller girl and narrowed her eyes.

"Leave me alone," she said carefully holding back the angry words that threatened to burst out.

"Don't talk back to me Farm Girl," Melissa snapped sharply as she looked down her long nose.

Alanna clenched her hands around the wire, it dug in deep to her palms and she wrenched her hands away, as the older girl laughed harshly.

"Your stupid as well as a Farm Girl."

Alanna suddenly swung at her, her sore hands clenched into fists.

Melissa eyes went wide and she didn't try to block the fist that hit her check.

"Alanna!" a shocked Thea looked at her eyes displaying her emotions. "What are you doing?"

Melissa was sitting on the floor, eyes full of water and hands cupping her already swelling check.

Melissa screamed loudly, servants ran out and took in the scene with convicting eyes.

The cook grabbed Alanna roughly and started to drag her, Alanna pulled away and the cook grunted and let her fall to the floor. Alanna felt stones dig into her hands.

"Its wasn't my fault she…"

Lady Acton watched her as she stormed across the grass, her skirts swishing, her eyes were narrowed and her lips draw back in thin lines.

Her claw hands grabbed Alanna's red hair and she pulled her up

Alanna twisted her head and her eyes watered as her long red hair was wrenched out her scalp.

She clutched her head, as Lady Acton rounded on her throwing the hair out her hands in disgust.

Then Anna walked over silently she pushed people away with a bat of her hands, her eyes were a smoky calm.

She held Lady Acton's elbow "She'll be punished," she said loudly into the woman's ear.

Alanna looked in Anna's smoky eyes, as she held out her hand "Come on, Alanna" she said softly but firm. Alanna stood up and followed her.

The fiery woman followed Lady Acton, "I wouldn't let you touch her again" she whispered in the Lady's ear, Lady Acton shivered as the woman disappeared in a display of bright lights.

Thom stoked the books covers and spins, his long fingers gracefully touching everyone on the shelf.

Finally he tugged a thick book off the shelf and carried into the tables in the middle of the library. Just then Alex padded softly into the library he nodded at Thom and gave the books in before coming over.

"more reading" he remarked quietly, Thom nodded, over the last month he and Alex had exchanged short conversations. Since neither of them was very open or talkative it was done in short sentences and single words. "nice shooting"

Thom allowed a smile on his face, all his arrows were charmed and his clothes were protected. "Thanks you're good to"

Alex nodded and sat down, he looked thoughtful before a veil slipped over his face.

Ciaran watched them, Alex would be a good porn to secure Thom's safety he though. He yawned and watched silently, drumming his fingers on his knee. He was just glad he didn't have to endure skull cracking visions anymore, still he was very bored.

Thom went stiff and his eyes went small.

Alex was at once on his feet watching him blank faced. "Thom?" he asked softly.

Thom snapped out of it he looked down at his hands palm had purple bruises on and his head hurt, he touched his hair and a few strands fell out.

Alex was watching him unsure what to do, "You ok"

Thom nodded, his throat was hurting it felt like fire was running up and down his neck. "I'm ok" he said "it was nothing." Absently touched the scar on his left palm where Alanna had cut him with a knife.

Thom shivered and nodded, Alex looked at him out the corners of his eyes. "See you," he said softly before walking out.

Ciaran rubbed his chin, "What happened" he said to himself, he closed his eyes and his body twisted and cracked before turning into a fine black haired dog.

He padded to Thom who looked uneasily at him.

"go away." Thom told the dog, the dog sat down, his tail beating the floor.

Then it licked his face, Thom tensed and looked at it eyes wide.

"Go away!" he told the dog again and picked up his books and walked away, the dog followed him walking behind him almost politely.

At his door, Thom glared at dog and shut him out.

As he turned round Thom let out a gasp of surprise and dropped his books, the dog looked at him happily batting his tail against the floor.

"I'm not gonna get rid of you am I?" sighed Thom in defeat as he looked out the shutters.

The dog gave a bark, and Thom groaned.

He wandered if Alanna would come on midwinter, he hoped so. Thom touched the purple bruises on his hands thoughtfully, before gingerly opening his magic books and started to read.